Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he has taken to ensure the protection of teachers with disabilities from discrimination.

The Equality Act (2010) provides a single, consolidated source of anti-discrimination law, covering all the types of discrimination that are unlawful. In England and Wales, the Act applies to all maintained and independent schools, including academies, and non-maintained special schools. To support schools in ensuring they comply with the provisions of the Act, we published ‘The Equality Act (2010): advice for schools’ in February 2013.

Teach First is committed to ensuring that all candidates and participants are treated fairly - irrespective of disability, gender, sexual orientation, age, race, religion or any other factor.

Teach First looks for teaching potential in all candidates. Identifying information of candidates is removed from the screening process and recruiters are trained to avoid unconscious bias. Teach First encourages applications from candidates with disabilities and provides any additional support needed during training alongside their placement school and university partners.